Hailing from the collection of architect Arthur Cotton Moore, this pair of Soriana lounge chairs in medium brown from Afra & Tobia Scarpa were manufactured in the late Twentieth Century and more than doubled their high estimate, selling for $5,398, the highest price of the sale ($1,5/2,000).
Review by Kiersten Busch
CHEVY CHASE, MD. — Sloans & Kenyon started September off right with their September Estate Catalogue Auction, conducted on the 12th of the month. The 510-lot sale offered property from the estates of Bernard “Bernie” Delia, Arthur Cotton Moore and other notable consignors. Items up for grabs included various furniture, paintings and sculpture, silver, decorative arts, rugs, Asian objects and clocks.
Leading the sale was a pair of Afra & Tobia Scarpa Soriana chairs which achieved $5,398. The lounge chairs, upholstered in medium brown plush fabric, dated to the late Twentieth Century and were in good overall condition. They previously belonged to architect Arthur Cotton Moore.
Also from Moore’s collection was a Charles and Ray Eames lounge chair and ottoman made from rosewood and upholstered with black leather. The chair bore a brass plaque that read “Here Sat the King of Greece 17 February 1989.” Despite wear to the upholstery and replacement leather adorning the armrests, the two-piece set rocked to $3,429, just above its $3,000 high estimate. A chair identical to this one, minus the brass plaque, was also offered in this sale and crossed the block for $2,159.
Furniture continued to excel with a sofa from Le Corbusier, exceeding estimates to cross the block for $2,159. The chromed metal and chocolate brown leather upholstered sofa, complete with a model number of “LC3,” was also from Moore’s collection; an identical couch, sold as a separate lot, also achieved the same price.
The second-highest price of the sale went to this Charles and Ray Eames lounge chair and ottoman in rosewood and black leather. Consigned from the Moore collection, the set stretched to $3,429 against a $2/3,000 estimate.
Tableware and related items continued to be popular throughout the auction. An 82-piece service of Austrian silver flatware monogrammed “M.F.” was dished out for $1,651, landing comfortably within its $1,2/1,800 estimate. The flatware — which included pieces such as dinner forks and knives, fish and fruit knives, cocktail forks and spoons and teaspoons, among others — collectively weighed approximately 80 troy ounces and had faceted, flaring handles.
Skyrocketing past its $150/250 estimate was a Majolica polychromed centerpiece modeled after a lavender and white shell, which was supported by coral and leaf-and-shell rockery, which earned $1,524. The Nineteenth Century example measured 18 inches high and 11½ inches long and was in fair condition.
Leading the sale for paintings was a set of two early summer landscapes by Canadian-American painter Charles Paul Gruppe. Both oil on canvas works were signed in the lower right-hand corner and measured 12 by 13 inches framed. Estimated at just $600/800, the set of two surpassed expectations to earn $2,286.
Prices quoted include buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For additional information, 301-634-2330 or www.sloansandkenyon.com.
